Updated
Overview
Romania has about 60% more people than Belgium: 19.02 million against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is about 70% larger than Romania's, at $725.47B versus $428.68B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Romania | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $428.68B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $382.77B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $22,538 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.7% | Higher: 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 7.2% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | 5.7% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 44 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,722 | Higher: $7,044 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $906 | Higher: $2,387 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.01 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.02 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 18.15 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.2 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.5 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 52% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,391 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 79.8/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 69 Mt | 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.72B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 128,000 | 24,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (0.7% for Romania, 1.0% for Belgium).
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 2.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.2 (Romania) and 41.9 (Belgium).
Life expectancy is 5.8 years longer in Belgium (82.3 vs 76.5).
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Romania is 7.8 times the size of Belgium: 238,391 km² versus 30,528 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 80.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $8.72B (Romania) and $8.56B (Belgium).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.3%.
Romania fields the larger armed forces: 128,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Romania bigger than Belgium?
- Romania is larger by land area. Romania covers 238,391 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Romania is 7.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Romania or Belgium?
- Romania has the larger population: 19.02 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Romania richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $428.68B for Romania versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Romania or Belgium?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $8.56B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).